Dude!

by Aaron Reynolds, Dan Santat (Illustrations)

Aaron Reynolds, the author of Nerdy Birdy and Creepy Carrots! teams up with Dan Santat, the Caldecott–winning illustrator behind The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend to create the hilarious, gnarly summer adventure picture book, Dude!

Dude! You have to read this book.

It's totally about this platypus and this beaver who are friends. They want to go surfing but dude, there's this shark who's in the ocean, too.

But don't worry. This shark approaches and you'll never guess what happens.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Animals, Friendship, Fiction, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 24, 2018

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Aaron Reynolds is a New York Times Bestselling Author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including Dude!, Creepy Carrots!, Creepy Pair of Underwear!, Nerdy Birdy, and tons more. He frequently visits schools and his highly participatory presentations are a blast for kids and teachers alike. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife, two kids, four cats, and between three and ten fish, depending on the day.

(source: Amazon)

Reviews

[Spencer Orey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surfer animals make friends with a shark and eat lots of ice cream. Dude!

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically a wordless book. This story is told only with the word Dude. The pictures are by Dan Santat and I love his artwork. These surfers have a simple story to tell. It is an effective story. My nephew isn't reading yet and he felt like he could 'read' this book. It might have been one word, but still, he gave great voice intonations and he also talked about the story. He had a blast reading it. Dude is thrown around alot at our house now.

He gave the book 5 stars.

[Kelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really loved Carnivores, but this one left much to be desired. As usual, the illustrations were bright and fun but, really?! Dude was the only word. These two can do so much better but apparently they don’t have to because...published.

[Figgy]

RTC

There's not much to say about the words in this book, as there are all of two ("Dude" in its many variations, and one instance of "Splat!"), but it's in Dan Santat's illustrations that readers will come to understand what's going on here, through the facial expressions and surroundings.

Santat really does have to be one of my absolute favourite illustrators, and I will read anything and everything that he is a part of.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is exactly one word used in this book, and it is repeated throughout, AND, as we find out . . . it's all in the way you say it.

Featuring more great artwork by Dan Santat.

[Gayatri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duuuude!!! 😎 that’s all this picture book needed. The illustrations are spot on and don’t require much text. Loved it!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Proof that the way a word is said (or read, in this case) alters its meaning. The single word of text (hint: if you've read the title, you've read the book) effectively demonstrates this concept through the font, punctuation usage, and, Dan Santat's signature illustrations. The eye-popping colorful pictures enrich the text and create an engaging environment for young readers.

[Sarah Krajewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duuuude! Hilarious book, and a great one to use when teaching tone.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! I love reading "one word" stories, and this one is sure to entertain.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving this book 5 stars because 500 is not an option.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dude!!! Dude!!! Duuuuudddeee!!!
A totally hilarious and bodacious read.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duuuuude! This book got my 6 year old laughing so hard and when we were done he made me read it again, and then he wanted to read it aloud to himself after that. Brilliant illustrations. Dude is a pretty versatile word, dude. 5 stars and Happy Shark Week Dudes!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 for me because I liked it much more upon a second reading. Relying on one word repeated throughout the story but in different typefaces and colors, this almost wordless picture book follows the surfing adventures of a beaver and a platypus. Phrases such as "FAR OUT!" and "GNARLY" and yes, that ubiquitous "DUDE!" come to mind, of course, while watching their antics as they head out to catch the perfect wave. The facial expressions in the illustrations are hilarious with the platypus getting a load of bird waste on its head, and the beaver realizing that a great white shark is heading their way. But all three end up being friends, sharing ice cream on the beach after using the shark's body as the world's biggest and best surf board. The text is fun to read aloud, varying how the word "DUDE" is uttered, and the images are crisp, clean, and hold readers' attention. I laughed all the way through, and young readers will too. I suspect this picture book will singlehandedly be responsible for the return to popularity of that much-used word. Obviously, this is a perfect read aloud for sharing with youngsters, maybe before a trip to the beach.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe the lack of appeal for me is that I don't think I could pull reading this out loud off. Two animal surfers run afoul a shark and resulting adventures occur with just the use of one work and (I admit I was sick of it by the end of the story.)

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't wait until this fun picture book comes out so I can listen to how people will interpret it with the different voices and intonations.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duuuuuuuuude! This word is firmly entrenched in my vernacular thanks to Keanu Reeves, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Supernatural. An American publication featuring a surfing platypus!?! Duuuuuude.

Take one word and rely on comical facial expressions, perspective and different fonts to convey tone and meaning. Difficult concept executed magnificently. There's suspense, drama and hilarity. Visual literacy at its best. Zany, goofy mayhem. Totally bodacious, dudes.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, I am way too easily amused.

[Deana Metzke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This simple picture book by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Dan Santat is a perfect read for young children. I explain why here on my blog: https://wp.me/p7OIsL-Vd

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my new favorite books. After reading it to several groups of kindergartners I can safely say that this is a winning book. Aaron Reynolds and Dan Santat make for a thoroughly marvelous team. While the book only uses one word throughout (Dude!), the way it is used makes for a delightfully hilarious romp. The story makes for an awesome read aloud and could also be used to demonstrate that how a word is used determines it's meaning.

A platypus and a beaver arrive at a beach and after indulging in an ice cream cone, set out to surf. Even a warning sign next to some nasty looking rocks doesn't deter them. Even though beaver says, "Dude!" Out surfing, the two buddies have a good time (platypus isn't thrilled about the bird poop that lands on his head, although beaver finds it hilarious) until they see a shark fin in the distance. But the encounter doesn't turn out the way one might think resulting in more use of the word dude and a surprising ending. This book is fabulously well done. In fact, I think I like it better that Beekle.

[Prince William Public Libraries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dude! rocks, dudes!

In this entertaining picture book, two dudes, a platypus and a beaver, go surfing. They meet another dude, a shark. They offer him ice cream. Will they all be dudes together? The answer will provide you with plenty of enjoyment.

Dude! tells a story using only the word “dude.” Dude. “Word by Aaron Reynolds,” proclaims the cover. It’s a clever concept brought to life by the wonderful illustrations of Dan Santat. Dude! is a great choice to kick off your summer reading.

-John D.(ude)

Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this clever picture book, the text uses one word - dude - throughout the entire story. But that one word takes on so many different meanings and shades of meaning. There is a sweet story about friends having a terrific time at the beach together and another misunderstood shark that will have young readers smiling. This could be a great way to talk about vocabulary, and how one word can have so mean so many different things. This could also be a great mentor text for young writers to create their own one-word stories.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book with high expectations because I really like Dan Santat and Aarron Reynolds. I'm sad to say, I was disappointed. I did like how the book only uses one (repeated) word but tells a story. Although, if I were Reynolds, I'm not sure I would bother taking credit for the "words" in this book. I give all credit to Santat. All of the other Santat books I've read (Adventures of Beekle, Are We There Yet?, After the Fall) were better though.

[Joella · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this isn't wordless...but it is nearly wordless (three words and two of them are "dude" and "dudes" so really, lots of things happen that you have to get just from the illustrations). So good. REALLY. It is So. Good. And funny. And totally perfect for summer reading story time.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to hear Aaron Reynolds himself read this aloud at a conference I attended, and DUDE! It was awesome!

The illustrations are perfection, too!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is too cute holy heck. Gorgeous illustrations, super fun. Will 100% be buying this for my little nephew.

[Clementine · Rating 4 out of 5]

very clever with enormous kid appeal

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute. Original.

[Carol Gordon Ekster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hysterical and clever and awesome, especially when Dan Santat reads it aloud!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stellar read aloud!

[Casey Girard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having heard the author and illustrator read it, it's hard to say it was anything other than awesome.